American Neoclassicism The Federal Period 1780 – 1830 (started 20 years after England)

The Lack of a Profession no architectural profession no large scale projects –residence of small scale public constructed by builders, craftsmen, bricklayers or amateur architects –pattern books

Charles Bulfinch Boston politician & gentleman amateur architect failed investment –had to practice to survive

Harrison Gray Otis Boston, 1790s, by Charles Bulfinch (very clear relationship to English Neoclassicism)

clearly responding to Neoclassicism delicate ornamentation 1—tablets—inspired by Robert Adam 2—palladian window 3—fanlight— invented by Adam—attached to the front door 4—sidelights

lunette tripartite construction string courses

central hall double pile

Parlor symmetry citron/aquamarine Adamesque drapes—swag with double jabot wallpaper frieze classical arrangement allover or fitted carpet pier table—looks like mirror is attached/one piece because mirror goes below table

historically preserved space American furniture is more simple than England fireplace anchors the room—almost exact replica of Adam’s work

Thomas Jefferson: Politician member of Virginia House of Burgesses, member of Continental Congress, Governor of Virginia, member of Continental Congress, Minister to France, Secretary of State, (under Washington) Vice President, (under J. Adams) President, 1802

Thomas Jefferson: Politician wanted a unique architectural expression for America anti-British

Thomas Jefferson: Scientist scientist / inventor farmer –believed that everything good about America came from its land –makes a concentrated effort to connect outside with inside father was a surveyor

Monticello Charlottesville, VA, by Thomas Jefferson, trying to create an “American” interpretation

full-scale laboratory for building and testing design ideas

Villa Pisani by Palladio relied not on pattern books, but Palladio’s Quatro Libre

Hotel De Salm inspired while in France—felt it looked original

cruciform shape added a lot of windows— connection to outside four stories—basement, main 1 st,main 2 nd, rotunda

second floor first floor

conflict of window and balustrade

garden façade (personal)—shows much more of the inventor

Chinese Chippendale

like Hadrian’s cryptoporticus— so slaves were not visible to guests

invention so you saw only one slave

garden front public face

garden face—showing the scientist/inventor

Public/Front Façade—sense of refinement and simplicity

weather vane— indication of scientist double faced clock—one mechanism

compass indicator from weather vane version of the Doric order—connection to Greece, the original democracy

Entry Hall: The First American Museum busts of politicians specimen of the American landscape simple furniture—slave made; trade skill when freed

triple sash window— easy connection to outdoors

eagle & stars—popular motifs most floors a simple herringbone pattern

interpretation of the Versailles floor pattern Parlor collector of art—mostly portraits

Parlor

triadic color scheme musician

back doors of parlor

Dining Room fireplace most likely took this design from a pattern book—customary tablet that imitates jasperware

Breakfast/ Tea room— half- octagonal addition to dining room two sets of doors to create an air pocket these open for when both sets of doors are closed

Tea Room

gained a 180 degree view

Bedroom & the Venturi Effect alcove bed (French influence) to create a draft

morphed writing desk and chaise lounge candles built into chair invention creates two copies at once

to light closet skylight

library had over 10,000 volumes— largest private collection bed

design attributed to Jefferson holds five books at once allows reader to rotate stand unfolds as step ladder revolving five-sided book stand

American motifs American Cow Skull, Roman Urn, Hatchet, French Medallion

exploration of vertical circulation

building drum rotunda takes skills that Americans don’t yet have